DEVILS PUNCH BOWL/ CHUCK PONTIAS RACE REPORT

DEVILS PUNCH BOWL:
First lap went off hot with only about 15 riders left at the top of the climb. Most of the field were able to chase back on the back side and I was pleased to see all three team mates Smitty, Derek, and weixy were among those who made it back. We noodled along for a little bit along the back side until several fierce attacks launched off the front as several riders were putting the hurt down through the start/ finish hill leading into the 2nd lap. By the top of the main climb on lap 2 only about 14 riders remained the rest of the 60+ field shattered in the barren wasteland that is the landscape of Devils Punch Bowl. The last main climb whittled the field down to 10. No one had any team mates. There were a couple pure climbers who were pretty tore up from putting in the big digs and attacks early in the race. They weren't going to be a problem. It was the 6 footers that I was worried about and there were about 6 of em. You know the type. The riders who dish out the pain field sprint after field sprint after field sprint... The kind of riders who you hope get eating alive by the 1400 feet/ lap elevation gain. The back side was fast with rider after rider launching attack after attack. My plan was simple: Survive. I had no interest in attacking... I had no interest in chasing. As the riders jumped, I waited for the wheel in front of me to go and I sucked that wheel will all the might I could muster. About 1/4 mile before the final turn heading into the start finish rider one of the larger riders countered and this time the field was too tired to chase. A couple of guys made some digs but most guys looked around. "look like were sprinting for 2nd boy-os" I said, hoping that I could get some guys to start their sprint from the bottom of the hill and maybe, just maybe make my jump early enough to catch what I knew would be a fading riders OTF. They boys started to wind It up and I jumped wheel to wheel until I hit the wind about 250 M from the line and started to open it up. I looked down and saw a wheel behind me... I looked up and saw the rider off the front... I came across the line with a comfortable gap on the rider on my wheel and only a couple of bike lengths from 1st for a solid 2nd place finish.

I think I played it right... The guy who won, deserved to win.

The second place finish pushed me into 4th in the cat 3 SoCal Cup.

CAT 3 RESULTS:
Chester Gillmore 2
Steve Smith 21
Steve Weixel 31
Derek Johnson DNF

CAT 2 RESULTS:
Chris Walker 4
Seth Zaleski 9

CHUCK PONTIAS:
I was a little more active then I should have been early in the race... Launching attack after attack, trying to get a group of guys to come with me and start working OTF. Derek rolled up and said I am going to attack... You counter. Just then another group launched off the front and Derek and I rode towards the front... Finally the pack game together and Derek launched an attack of all attacks. I rode towards the front getting ready for the counter... Derek was caught and another couple of riders countered before I could get around to it. Finally, a couple of riders made a bridge move, which I followed and then Blew right through on the wheel of Patrick lee. Eventually 2 became 4 became 7. We built a good gap with Derek and smitty in the pack slowing things down, and then a chase group of about 6 bridged to us. So we were 16. Brian McCulla jumped of the front with a rider in tow, another rider bridged. Patrick Lee made the move to bridge a little too late and the 3 OTF finished 1,2,3 with Patrick Lee rolling across the line 4th. I started my sprint a little too late and finished near the back of the break for either 10th or 11th.

I feel good for having made the break but should have learned my lesson from last year about the fast downhill sprint. I needed to be top 1,2,3 heading into that last corner b/c it is very hard to actually pass riders once everyone is already up to speed.

A great weekend of racing by all the platinum boys and a good way to start the second half of my season.

CAT 3 RESULTS:
Chester Gillmore 10th or 11th?
Steve Smith DNF
Derek Johnson DNF